Da Lat forest may be developed into tourist resorts

In a document sent by the Sacom-Tuyen Lam company to the Lam Dong People’s Committee, the company has requested part of the protective forest at the Tuyen Lam Lake national tourism site to be converted.

The forest areas with three-needled pines were determined as protective forests of Da Lat, with over 1,200 cubic meters worth of wood, by the Prime Minister in 2004.

The company has requested to pay money for the conversion, saying it cannot replace the lost forest areas by replanting other forests as it should.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has been tasked to coordinate relevant entities to evaluate the proposal so that Lam Dong People’s Committee can come to a decision.

The Tuyen Lam Lake tourism site was recognized as the first national tourism site in 2017.

The site spans over 29,000 ha and is situated in wards 3 and 4 of Da Lat, and part of Duc Trong District. Over 10 businesses had invested in the site, including for picnic sites, resorts, and golf courses.

According to a 2020 report by the local authorities, 51% of Da Lat’s natural land is covered by forests. Over 2016-2020, the city has planted over 200,000 more trees, including 434 ha of forest.